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August 27, 2012

Beef Herd Tumbles to 40-Year Low

"The slide in output may not stop until 2016 or 2017, Rachel J. Johnson, a USDA livestock economist, wrote in an Aug. 16 report. Once the herd starts to expand, it takes more than two years to boost supplies, according to Ron Plain, a livestock economist at the University of Missouri. Calves have a nine- month gestation period and take about 20 months to reach slaughter weight, he said."